Good article and I agree on most, but no mention of Matthews role on this years team. Of the 3 Keys that Sydney listed, I think key #2 needs to be more specific.
The three keys to this season will be the senior guards producing and leading the roster, having the freshmen develop, and having a healthy roster throughout the season.
IMO, the development of our 3 newcomers at Center (Mikulic, Van Nes, Sidibe) trumps the development of the other Frosh. It is extremely critical that one or more of those centers are part of our main rotation. And while Sidibe already has a Division I body and can rebound and defend at this level, his offense is limited. If Mikulic or Van Nes can play, then they also bring a much need boost to the perimeter.
Last Edit: Oct 22, 2012 12:41:16 GMT -5 by JoeStag
Does anyone else get bothered by the way Sydney always understates situations. It is like he buys a put option for everything he says. I still like him as a coach, but its always something that has bothered me.
For instance, this does not instill that much confidence in me
“We want to win the marathon. We realize winning the sprint doesn’t get us to where we want to go. So if we stay healthy and improve and those first two things come together, we might be alright.”
Last Edit: Oct 22, 2012 12:38:27 GMT -5 by stags10
I guess I shouldn't read too much into this article since it is early. But here's your rotation, based on what I read anyway: Backcourt: Needham, Nickerson and Wade Frontcourt: Barrow, Matthews, Coleman Johnson, Mikulic and Sidibe.
Interesting that there is no mention at all of Marcus Gilbert or Justin Jenkins. You would think that at least one of them has to play some minutes backing up Needham and Nickerson.
No mention of Van Nes: Not so surprising.
Last Edit: Oct 22, 2012 19:52:58 GMT -5 by HawkStag
when was the last time that VVN actually played in an exhibition or "real" game? IMHO it will be Sidibe and Milkulic in the middle this year depending on whether offense or defense is needed from a big man.
Ed, the last time Van Nes played in a game was Nov 2010. I think he played 3 games to start the 2010-11 season at Prep school.
Gilbert does "impactfull" things on the court...... Slams, Blocks and play over the Rim. I have also seen him defer and get lost at times in HS and AAU. That also happened at Red-White scrimmage. Gilbert has a tremdous upside...... it will be the PG's responsibility to assure that Gilbert stays involved..... that falls specifically on Wade's shoulder.
Rothstein was supposed to be one of the guest speakers at the Stag Basketball Tipoff at the NY Athletic Club on Tuesday...... but now its Gary Apple of CBS Sports Network. I plan on being there...... anybody else going.
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 23, 2012 8:07:06 GMT -5
Stags10, quite frankly I think that when Sydney is saying he wants to win the marathon as opposed to the sprint I think he is using "coachspeak" for the fact that there will be a bumpy road over the first third-half of the season and the record might not be the best. Unfortunatelty the combination of integrating a lot of new players with five good (but small as a group) returnees, plus the fact that the schedule is brutal (more so because of where the games will be played rather than who we are playing) is not a good combination to inspire a great OOC record. But on the other hand I think its apparent in these interviews and also hearing him speak at the dinner last week that in the big picture of things (both for this season and the future) that he is very confident in the direction of the program. And based on his track record both with his teams at Princeton and last year as the team improved down the stretch, he has credibility in what he is saying. So personally I am confident in what he is saying even though his language may appear a bit negative.
Not to look too far into the future, but with Needham, Wade and Nickerson graduating, it will be very interesting to see how our backcourt does next year. As of now, it looks like it will be made up of Grennan, Jenkins, Chappell and Lincoln Davis (assuming he comes after his year in prep school).
This year our frontcourt is an unknown quantity (with Van Nes, Mikulic, Sidibe, Johnson and Gilbert being new). Next year, our backcourt will be in the same boat.
Johnson is going to have two very challenging seasons to put things together. It will be interesting to see if he can succeed with so many unknowns.
Last Edit: Oct 23, 2012 8:25:15 GMT -5 by vastagman
Johnson is going to have two very challenging seasons to put things together. It will be interesting to see if he can succeed with so many unknowns.
Agree, that there will be totally different unknowns next year, and many more of them. I actually feel that this year there are very few unknowns. With 5 players returning that not only have a lot of experience……..they have experience winning a lot of games in the regular season, MAAC Tourney, and NIT/CIT post-season. That’s huge because these 5 guys are going to be on the court for 75% of the minutes.
Does that guarantee success……. No. But I like our chances with these 5 guys. I really like the way they played in the Red-White scrimmage.
I think we have only ONE major unknown and that is a Big(s) that can give us around 30mpg at Center. I feel we have 6 starters….. the 5 returnees and a “Center By Committee” (CBC). The CBC has to give us 8pts and 8rpg with good defense.
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 23, 2012 12:30:36 GMT -5
Bad teams and programs rebuild. Good teams and programs reload. Fairfield has been a very good team the last 3-4 years, although (short of a championship) not great. Can the Stags stay around the top of the MAAC for the next couple of seasons as Sydney Johnson inprints HIS recruits and HIS style of play to the program? That is the $64,000 question at the moment as there are so many unknowns. Again, based on his track record I do have faith that Sydney knows what he is doing and the program will remain strong. But yet at the same time there is the possibility of some tough times for the near future. But anyway, will Johnson's program stay in a reloading mode or will they drop back to mediocrity and have to rebuild? Indeed his legacy as the coach at Fairfield University might be hanging on the answer to this question.
The key to us "Reloading" is for us to get a transfer guard with a sick grandma ..... Or even a JUCO guard like Kim Fisher. We have to keep this going next year.
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 23, 2012 18:20:37 GMT -5
Speaking of a couple other transfer guards that really helped, how about Danny Odums and A.J. Wynder. I would take the equivalent of either one of them in a heartbeat!
